13 Month Recap; Favorite Photos of R.E.K.

Photos Bottom to Top: "Huffin' & Puffin' -- Blowing Your Own Nose," "Happy, Happy!", "Whew! Done with Chores"....

Dear Remington, These three photos make me smile. I think they depict your cute and fun-loving personality. You are truly a person who strives for independence and tries to learn things on your own. For instance, you were determined to blow your own nose this month and so you learned how to huff and puff to get your nasal passages clear.

I love that you are not afraid to test limits and push yourself. I love that you are willing to try new things...both are very amazing qualities to nourish and continue.

Love: Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie

Not So Perfect Mommie...

Dear Reme:

Most of our time together is perfection, but there are some days whereby Mommie can get a bit frazzled. You are such a curious and busy little boy and you don't like to sit still or be confined, so there are times I feel a little like I have hit wits end...today was one of those days.

One minute you were playing -- throwing some of your toys into the bathtub while Mommie was fixing her hair and make-up; the next minute you had taken a bag Mom had intended for garbage and hurled it down the stairs.

Suffice it to say, Mommie was a bit aggravated -- NOT at you but the situation (something in the garbage stained the staircase, and unfortunately, the stains are permanent). I write about this day because I want you to know that no matter what happens, I love you, adore you, cherish you. You are my heart and I am so glad you are my Son. It truly is a priviledge to be your Mom. So, even on days where I tell you "No," or days that you go to time-out or get grounded, just know that the discipline is a necessity to ensure you are a good citizen and that you are loved beyond measure.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Chugga, Chugga...

Dear Reme, the inertia of life has left my writings to you minimal since your birthday almost 6 months ago, but I so do NOT want to forget the things you do that contribute to your cute personality, so again, I am at work writing you a note.

Today Mommie had a wonderful time watching you play with watermelon slices. You lined them up as if they were cars of a train and started to say: "chugga,chugga." It was pretty darn cute! Your fascination with trains is awesome! I am glad you like trains because they are one of my favorite forms of transportation, too. They have a vast and interesting history, and still help with the dispersion of goods across the United States.

Overall, this week has been a busy one. By Sunday the 11th (Patriot Day), Mommie will have worked 7 days straight, with several of them as a learning and growth opportunity in the ER. Why do mention this? Well, I guess it is to point out that persistance and determination are essential but do not always mean an easy route to one's goals. So, it is a positive in life to find ways to progress as you can. We are all on a journey to learn the things that are essential and important for us to know. With that said, remember Son, from the words of the Musical Group Chumbawamba: "I get knocked down But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down..."

Choosing a positive attitude and being kind can take you where you may not think you need to go, but the rewards are interesting and amazing.

Be playful, set goals, have a strong work-ethic, be kind, be positve, have persistance and determination, think outside of the box, be imaginative but most of all always find a way to be playful and keep that Chugga, chugga tune in your heart.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Umm,Ummm, Ummm...

Dear Reme:

Tonight I am at my place of business and I can't help but smile whenever I think of you. You are maturing FAST; and you have a wonderful personality.

One of the things you have been doing lately to get my attention is to say: umm,umm,umm...it is so cute! I can imagine you saying umm,umm,umm...Moooomie!

You are also doing some pretty darling things when you are playing and in pretend-play-mode. You like to sit down to play with your train, making the chugga, chugga, chugga noises. I think it is awesome that you are emulating our play time...and Momma saying: "Chugga, chugga, chugaa -- Choo-Choo!"

You constantly want to hold cold ice-cubes in your hand, and so in between playing, you will run to the refrigerator and say: "ice, ice, ice." Then you suck on a small sliver of ice cube (I believe you are so interested in this because you are teething).

In the past you have been so independent, not really wanting to hold my hand because you wanted to run and explore, but today, you held my hand during all of our errand running and shopping. As your Mom I was so pleased. I don't EVER want to loose you!!! You are now and forever the ABSOLUTE love of my life! I am the luckiest Mom to have you as my Son.

Another thing you do in terms of independence is HAVE to feed yourself. You do a great job using a small fork and spoon. You often won't eat a thing until you have tried to pick up the food and feed yourself. It is adorable, and one of the many things I love that you do right now.

With all of the new things you accomplish on a daily basis, I hope you always have a sense of adventure and independence and are willing to try new things.

I love you dear Son...

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

H-A-P-P-Y!!!!

Son-shine:

You are the happiest little person I know! You jabber a lot and smile a lot and I love that you are this way. It seems to me you see the world as a "glass half full." I hope you always choose to be happy, and that you find ways to be happy as a person. I know many who struggle with this. One thing to know about the word Happy...you taught it to yourself. Daddy's friends would comment: "he is such a happy baby!" From the comments of others you taught yourself how to say "happy." You drag it out so it has a musical intonation when you say it and that is the most adorable thing EVER!!!

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

~~Pictures Top to Bottom: 2011 Easter Basket, "Adorable Lil' Devil."

Dear Remington, this Easter was technically your second Easter and we were sooo excited to get the house set up for the Easter Bunny's visit. Your first Easter came when you were just a little over a month old and the Easter Bunny had not been alerted to your arrival...so, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Cheryl brought you an Easter basket (with all sorts of things a one month old needs)that they made very lovingly.

This year, since you were only one, the EB brought a small basket filled with tiny M&M candies, a sippy cup, a football, and a football stand. You really loved taking everything out of the basket and then replacing all items directly back in. Daddy didn't think you should have chocolate quite yet, but Mommie was a naughty and gave you some M&M's, thus causing you to become a choclaholic (so yes, you may blame your sweet tooth on me. Ha-ha).

Besides the chocolate, you particularly liked the Easter egg hunt, and the yummy breakfast Mommie prepared (it was an egg, sausage, cheese, and bell pepper medly made like a breakfast casserole).

I have always liked Easter and hope that I can make it as fun and magical for you as my Mom did for me. I look forward to building many memories and traditions with you.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.

Recap of your Second Easter, April 24, 2011...

~~The goods for Easter, dyed April 23, 2011...

Snapshots of an Amazing One Year Old!!!

~~Pictures Top to Bottom: "Reme's First Happy Meal" (given 3-22-2011), "Debonair Boy," "Using Imagination," and "Looking Up."

Son-shine: You are such a wonderful little boy! You don't fret or loose your temper much; and, most of the time you are a "go-with-the-flow" little guy. You always are happy and singing or talking up a storm. You learned to say Happy just because so many of Daddy's friends commented on what a happy baby you are. Some of the other words you said this month: blue, red, bubble, light, dog, moo, quack. Light was the very first word you uttered after Da-da amd Ma-ma...you like to learn and you like to reorganize things (particularly Mommie's pantry and kitchen cupboards). One thing you are still doing that is cute as pie is piling every toy you can muster onto your Little Zoomers racetrack. We've gotten into the habit, when you do this, of singing "round, and round, and round it goes where it stops nobody knows!" You laugh and giggle and sometimes get so excited you tense all of your muscles up and reverberate energy while laughing. You are a joy to be around and bring so much love, laughter, and light to my life.

Love Forever and X Infinity,

Mommie.